Andy Warhol Exhibit at the National Museum of Wildlife Art

The Andy Warhol Endangered Species portfolio was commissioned by the art dealers Ronald and Frayda Feldman. The idea for the portfolio was born after conversations they had with Warhol about ecological issues, including beach erosion. Warhol owned beachfront property on Long Island, and undeveloped acreage in Colorado. Today, the loss of habitat and biodiversity are urgent topics as the impact of development reaches critical thresholds. Warhol’s 15-acre beach is now The Andy Warhol Preserve, a gift to The Nature Conservancy from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. While Warhol is best known for his Pop art and films, his interest in nature was life-long. As a child he drew animals in science class at Holmes School, kept a flower garden in the family’s yard, and drew in Schenley Park and Phipps Conservatory. In college, he went to the zoo in Highland Park to draw. Later in his life Warhol created his Cow and Fish Wallpaper, the film Sunset, and hundreds of paintings, prints, and drawings of flowers.